The Koch Family Papers Part 2 (vol. 2)

Part 2 of the Koch Family Papers about the geo-explorer Lauch Koch's life, work and aspirations

Part 2 Part 2: Drawings and maps from the 2nd Thule and Bicentenary Jubilee Expeditions (1916-1923) and the mapping of northern Greenland (Avannaarsua)

Volume 2: Mapping from Baffin to Koch and the role of Greenlanders

Author: Peter R. Dawes

Lauge Koch (1892-1964) was involved in Greenland affairs for 50 years with far-reaching impact. The Danish National Archives (RIgsarkivet) holds the bulk of his papers; others that remained with his family form the basis of a book published in 2012 as Part 1 of a trilogy, The Koch Family Papers.

The present two-volume book - Part 2 of the trilogy - focusses on a unique collection from the pre-aviation era: two hundred drawings and maps pertaining to the mapping of Greenland's Farthest North or Avannaarsua. Koch began this mammoth task as a student on Knud Rasmussen's 2nd Thule Expedition (1916-18) and completed it on his own Bicentenary Jubilee Expedition (1920-23). The assistance of the indigenous people - the Inughuit - on these ventures was indispensable.

Volume 2 goes through the cartographic and geologic exploration from William Baffins first written observations in 1616 until Koch shows up 300 years later. The focus is on the role of Greenlanders in mapping their own land; their will to work together in all areas of field work was essential for Kochs success.

The author Geologist Peter R. Dawes - emeritus research scientist at GEUS - has been working with Greenland affairs for more than 50 years. While geoscience has been his foremost occupation, the history of polar exploration and geographical discovery takes a close second place. During several expeditions to North Greenland in the 1960s, Dawes was introduced to the pioneer work of Lauge Koch who dog-sledged in the region between 1916 and 1923 producing the first regional geological and topographical maps of northern Greenland. His admiration for this eminent accomplishment and Koch's later work in East Greenland has been lifelong and, through contact with Koch's family, it has resulted in several articles on his work and life.

Content

From William Baffin to Lauge Koch The Inughuit and West Greenlanders Historic downplaying of Greenlandic participation Colonial rule and Greenlandic subordination - Robert Peary and recovery of the meteoritesHans Egede: the founder of rational mappingPeder Walløe, women's boat and regional explorationCoastal surveys and an influential German theoryPaddling 1000 kilometres into the unknownDiscovery of Baffin Bay and Smith Sound in 1616John Ross and Hans Zachæus reach Kap York in 1818John Franklin: turning point in Arctic explorationThe 70-year procession through Smith Sound - Greenlandic participation - Wintering in the Far NorthMan-hauling replaced by dogs with Hans Hendrik's help Adolphus Greely's misfortune reversed by Robert Peary Sledging by the winter moons: recipe for disaster The northern magnet: Peary's spurious sea channel A new and mighty fjord system claims three lives Jørgen Brønlund's devout sense of duty to no avail A Danish-Inughuit foursome rides the Imperial Highway but is misled Polar conflict: resolved but disbelieved, so manipulated and mystified Robert Peary: validation of Inughuit travel techniques and lifestyle The Peary Effect: Inughuit acclimatisation and Danish colonisation Inughuit tasks during an Indian summer The Inughuit: born Arctic explorers A squadron of biplanes caps a mapping era

Cartography status - Map status in 1916 - First Danish maps: nothing but a political manifestationInughuit maps of their land - A remarkable set of hundred year-old Inughuit maps - Inughuit map from 1903 versus Danish map from 1906Geology and glaciology status - Lay standouts: Peter Sutherland and Henry Feilden - The first geologists and glaciologists

Arctic Catch-22 and the physical parameters - The landscape: a rugged ice-bound wilderness - The climate and the frozen sea: harsh and unforgiving - Peary Land: main attraction, end-station and arctic desert - Timing the escape: from sea ice to land ice - Knud Rasmussen's fatal decision - Mapping in the face of illness and starvationWildlife depletion north of Kane Basin Dual task of cartography and geology National cartography receives an organisational boost Koch as protégé of namesake Johan Peter Koch The surveying instruments and the Koch theodolite

Benefits of an exclusive native escort Systematic planning with echoes of Peary 'A firm hand in a soft glove' and the growth of the map Daily life on the trail: routines and theodolite maintenance An Inughuit geological contribution Conclusion

Svend: not his choice Family and public archives - The Koch Family Papers: not a niche collection - Archiving process is aborted - Criterion for deposition in Rigsarkivet: state employment - Four notebooks from 1916-17: each with a different home - Carl Koch: last guardian of the family archiveRevisions, reader feedback and errata - S/S Godthaab in 1950 - Knud Rasmussen's urgent letter of invitation - Christmas at Upernavik 1920 - Family mix up: Mathias and Therkel Mathiassen - Letters from 1895 reunited with Astrup's book Acquisitions since Part 1 - Four unpublished manuscripts: collated as numbers 41-44 - 'Ørnereden' or Eagle's Nest: a final curiosity

Learn more

Additional information

GEUS is a research and advisory institution in the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate.The work field of GEUS - geoscientific studies, research, consultancy and geological mapping - primarily covers Denmark and Greenland.

GEUS is partner in Geocenter Denmark. It is a national center of geoscientific research, education, consulting, innovation and publishing at a high international level, within a broad spectrum of geoscientific subject areas.

Geocenter Denmark

GEUS is a member of the EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), the Geological Surveys of Europe.It is a not-for-profit organization representing 37 National Geological Surveys and some regional Surveys in Europe. EuroGeoSurveys’ mission is to provide and share public geological knowledge in Europe.